Tag: Dutasteride

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Enlarged Prostate

Dutasteride and BPH

The 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride is a medication that can treat benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms and reduce prostate size.

A medication that can treat benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms and reduce prostate size, is the FDA-approved 5-alpha reductase inhibitor dutasteride.

Dutasteride, also known by its brand name Avodart, works by inhibiting the 5-alpha reductase enzyme, by converting some of the body’s testosterone into dihydrotestosterone– which can cause further prostate growth.

The overproduction of dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT, also plays a significant role in hair loss, leading to it also being FDA-approved to treat male pattern baldness.

The 5-alpha reductase inhibitor approved to treat male pattern baldness is finasteride, also known by its brand name Propecia or Proscar.

Though 5-alpha reductase inhibitors show promising results in their ability to shrink the prostate and reduce benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms, they are not without their own set of side effects and risks.

Some of the side effects of using dutasteride in the treatment of an enlarged prostate are dizziness, testicular pain, and swelling, as well as:

Decreased sex drive and other sexual problems

Increased risk of depression and anxiety

Increased risk of heart failure

Increased risk of diabetes and other metabolic diseases

Other serious side effects of dutasteride include:

  • Peeling Skin
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Increased breast size
  • Swelling of the face, tongue, or throat
  • Increased risk of prostate cancer

Dutasteride does come with its side effects and risks. In fact, this is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Therefore it’s important to speak at length with your healthcare provider regarding all of these possible side effects as well as any drug interactions dutasteride may have.

For men that wish to avoid taking medication for an enlarged prostate due to the risks and side effects of these drugs, they may wish to explore the option of a non-invasive surgical procedure that we specialize in here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional called Prostate Artery Embolization.

Please call us to learn more and set up a consultation.

Categories
Enlarged Prostate

Finasteride: BPH and Male Pattern Baldness

Though originally used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia,  5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are now widely prescribed to combat hair loss. 

Though originally used to treat benign prostate hyperplasia,  5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are now widely prescribed to combat hair loss.

In fact, in 2020 around 2.4 million prescriptions were written for the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride, in order to treat male pattern baldness.

So what is a 5-alpha reductase?

5-alpha reductase is an enzyme that is present in the liver, skin, and prostate.

The role of this enzyme is to convert some of the testosterone, which is an androgenic steroid that is responsible for the growth seen during puberty, into dihydrotestosterone.

Dihydrotestosterone, also known as DHT, plays a significant role in male pattern baldness, the growth of facial hair, acne, and prostate growth. When the body is producing excessive DHT, this can lead to benign prostate hyperplasia, prostate cancer, and hair loss.

The 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride is FDA approved for the treatment of male pattern baldness, whereas the 5- alpha-reductase inhibitor dutasteride, also known by its brand name Avodart is FDA approved for the treatment of an enlarged prostate.

Both of these medications work by inhibiting the production of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase which thereby reduces the production of dihydrotestosterone. However, they each affect different smaller enzymes called type 1 and type 2 isoenzymes.

The isoenzyme type 1 is found mainly in the liver and skin, and in smaller amounts in the prostate. Isoenzyme type 1 is inhibited by the 5-alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride. This particular medication, also known by its brand name Propecia, has been found to reduce DHT production by 70% and has resulted in a prostate size decrease of 18%. When taken to treat hair loss, finasteride takes at least 3 months to take effect, and up to sick months to effects the prostate size.

The isoenzyme type 2 is found mainly in the prostate, with small amounts found in the skin and liver. Both the 5-alpha reductase isoenzymes type 1 and type 2 are inhibited by the medication dutasteride. Dutasteride, also known by its brand name Avodart, has been found to reduce dihydrotestosterone production by a whopping 93%, and in clinical trials decreased prostate size by 25.7%.

Though both dutasteride and finasteride are effective in both treating male pattern baldness and decreasing prostate size, finasteride does not stay in the system as long as dutasteride. Thus making dutasteride a better choice for benign prostate hyperplasia.

Finasteride and dutasteride are both taken as daily oral medication. Finasteride is available in 1 mg and 5 mg tablets, with the usual dose for male hair loss being 1 mg once daily, and 5mg daily for an enlarged prostate. Dutasteride is available as a 0.5 mg capsule and the usual dose for treating an enlarged prostate is 0.5 mg once daily.

Though 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are effective at shrinking the prostate and reducing benign prostate hyperplasia symptoms, they are not without their own set of side effects and risks.

In our next article, we will take a look at the side effects and potential risks involved in taking these medications.